What other instruments.....

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:13 am

I'm also a former tuba player who switched to bass early on. I was playing tuba in grade 9 when my music teacher suggested that it might sound better to be playing bass on certain numbers - tuba just doesn't do justice to Floyd Pepper's classic work on the Muppet Show theme song! After a while of playing both tuba and bass, I finally clued in to which was cooler and switched to bass full time.
Later in my teens I picked up guitar and eventhough I'm a pretty average player, my Rickensickness resulted in me ending up with a 330 and a 370/12. I've never played guitar in a band - I'm a bass player first and foremost.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:04 am

We had a cheap living room electric organ when I was a kid. I showed a knack with music, being able to pick up melodies and play by ear etc., so I received an acoustic guitar for my 8th (or so) birthday. I played around with guitars until high-school, but was always attracted to bass lines. On a whim, I bought a used Octaver pedal I saw in a music store, and the rest was history! I spent a few years playing bass lines on my cheap Strat copy running through the Octaver. Since I've always loved (beyond a reasonable amount-I was obsessed) the RIC sound of Jon Camp, Chris Squire, and Geddy, I saved up and finally bought a 4003FG in 1994 (I was 24). I've considered myself a bassist since then.

ghs_boomer · Post by **ghs_boomer** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:09 am

Started on violin in the 7th grade then went to the bass in the 8th. Now it's Bass and Bagpipes.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:25 am

I started on oboe in 5th grade but by 7th grade I was playing french horn. Neither excited me very much though I am still thrilled by great french horn players today. My brother started playing guitar around 1975 and he suggested that I play bass. There was always a shortage of bass players back then. I discovered the Beatles about that time. The first song I ever tried to play was "Michelle". I still love that bass line. By '77 I bought my first Rick. It was a 4001 FG that was only a few months old at the time. The seller prefered his Fenders. McCartney was my first influence, of course. Around '77 I heard Jaco for the first time and was blown away by his approach. I then became more aware of Geddy and Squire and learned about round wounds. After a while I began to appreciate the brilliance of Entwistle and John Paul Jones too.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:43 am

I started on bass (with a pick) at 16 in 1975, sold bass (a '74 P bass, gone for $175, still haunted by that smooth move),then bought a Guild 12 string guitar; the guitar was stolen while in college. I endured twelve years of frustration before being able to buy a new guitar, an AS Strat, in '89. Bought another P Bass a year later, and finally ended up in 2001 where I wanted to be from the beginning: with my very own Rickenbacker.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 10:50 am

...and now you own one of the most legendary RIC's that ever existed...!

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:21 am

Life is good!

ratso · Post by **ratso** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:59 am

Saw the Beatles on Sullivan, wanted a set of drums but too expensive! Settled for a cheap ($109.95)Ibanez bass in '65 with a Monkey Wards Airline bass amp. The band practiced at my parents so I had access to all equipment! Now I collect and play guitars and basses and love every one of them!

edski · Post by **edski** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:02 pm

Started on piano real young, about 4...yes, a musical family. I'm the youngest of 5, and we all played at least 2 instruments.

Picked up a trumpet when I was 9 (almost went to college with it, but ended up studying chemistry instead at an engineering school), and started on bass when I was 15 or so. I had a few cheap guitars around, but when I bought my 66 Fender Mustang for $90 in 1985 (I was about 20) I really didn;t consider myself a guitarist.

By the time I was about 25 I had picked up how to play a guitar by osmosis, playing folk based stuff with a singer/guitarist (I was still bassing it then). I recently switched back to bass after about 6 years of almost exclusively guitaring.

Basically, I can cope with just about any musical instrument given a little instruction on how to make a sound, and a fingering chart. I might not be that good-I spent a year hacking with a clarinet once, before I realized that if I put that much effort into playing the trumpet I'd probably be a good trumpet player again!

Oh yeah, for several years in late HS and early college I played French Horn, and I did a couple semesters in the college orchestra on the bouble bass-now there's a WORKOUT!

efdisaster · Post by **efdisaster** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:12 pm

Started on saxophone, in school... then switched to various percussion for about 6 years. Did marching drumline and a ton of other weird stuff. Our school had a lot of percussion equipment and a winter group dedicated to it... so we all became well versed in almost all the techniques to playing all the stuff we had. Tympani and Vibraphone were my favorite. I also got pretty good on the Congas and Timbales. Anyway, somewhere during those 6 years of intensive percussion, I bought a bass at a yard sale. Played in a couple groups in school... but it was when I got out of school that I started really focusing on the bass while playing in bands.

jaybic · Post by **jaybic** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:12 pm

This is great finding out about everyone's talents and abilities. I started piano at age 4 too Ed. I stopped taking piano lessions when I started playing trumpet in JH band. My school was so small that they cut band by the time I was a Freshman. For the longest time I considered myself a piano player that also played bass - didn't make the transition to a "bass" player until I joined a band that already had a keyboardist that could play better than me

But I still sit in for a song or two. Got to keep all my fingers limber - not just the plucking ones

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:49 pm

Played trumpet starting in fourth grade, switched to tuba in 6th, back to trumpet in 7th (forced by my instructor because they had a Sousaphone player in Junior high), bought first guitar in 8th grade, bought first bass in 9th for 25.00, good stuff classic bass, ahaha! bought a P bass in 71, bought a 4001 in 77. I still play guitar, am a born bass player though, always was, I made home made basses before I had a bass with a string, pencil and a box. I recently bought an upright, been playing that a lot lately, lots of demand around here for it. Played sax for a little while, very expressive instrument.
I had wanted a bass since I first heard The Beatles in 1964, finally got one somewhere during the summer of 1968 (maybe 67 I forget).I have 6 Ric basses right now with a fretless BB on order. Nice collection Ronn.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:09 pm

I've been playing bass since I was 15 (1984). I got my first 4001 when I was about 20 (a beat up checkerboard '73....that I sold for next to nothing because of neck/fret trouble.....dummy). I have been playing Rics ever since. I have tried the piano on and off but the only thing I am comfortable playing is a bass so that is what I'll stick with.

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:34 pm

Stared with the bass when I was 14 (all those years ago). Like most here I was bit that one famous Sunday night! The bass didn’t come though for another ten years or so. Started playing guitar a few years the bass - started playing guitar mainly for my own enjoyment (not for the enjoyment others!) and for writing. Still love playing my acoustic with the guys but there’s no question that I’m a bass player. I’m a pretty good (albeit frustrated) drummer too – been one for as long as I can remember. Wanted drums since that famous Sunday night but that wasn’t gonna happen growing up in a six family flat in Hoboken – so the bass it was – and yes it certainly does help to think like a drummer!

My father was a drummer and my uncle played bass for Sinatra in the early days. My cousin owned Kramer Guitars – made me a nice 5 string Spector back is 86 or so!

cheers

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:00 pm

My "other" instuments, l to r:
Fender MIM Precision, on the chair - '74 Gibson 20th Anniv. Les Paul Custom, Tran Teal MM StingRay5, Ibanez QM405tk, Paul Reed Smith Curly 4 (original design), '85 Tune Bassmaniac 5 (my 1st 5er), '81 Gibson Victory Artist fretless (I modded this bass into a 5 string 15 years ago, the extra tuner is in the bridge), Black MM StingRay5, on the floor - Kramer Ferrington KFB-8811.

The PRS and Kramer might be for sale soon, I'm like Jeff Rath, I mostly play 5 string basses, I make some time to find use for my 4 string Ricks.